Lessons Learned after Watching Coco

The best way to prove a point is by doing it (youth).

The first thing I observed while watching the animation was that Miguel relates to many of today’s youth. His constant struggle to pursue his dreams, the conflict of having a non-supportive family, and endless hope for belongingness.

Today’s youth consist of two generations, the Generation Y (Millennial) and the Generation Z (iGen). Both, are known for many things including their non-conformity to the norms of society, and their perpetual efforts for social acceptance. Compared to their predecessors who were willing to follow traditions and practices, today’s youth are more reluctant to carry on the customs of their parents to be able to present themselves according to their preferred character and personality.

In the animation, Miguel not only hesitates to join the family business, but also falters to carry out their long old tradition of banning music in their home. He then creates a secret room wherein he watches his idol’s movies while learning to play music on his own with his home-made guitar.

Throughout the movie he portrays a flat characteristic of a rebel teenager who just wants to be heard and understood. Who could blame him? Don’t we all just want to be loved for who we are?

Miguel faced many challenges in his journey for acceptance. Him moving forward despite being chased by his ignorant family is quite similar to how we move on despite being haunted by the memories of our past. Also, the way that Mama Imelda, and Pepita, her spirit guide tries to chase after Miguel symbolizes the people around us who want to stop us or misguide our path. While some may have good intentions, you’d never truly know if it’s worth it, if you don’t try.

If Mama Imelda succeeded in stopping Miguel before he reaches Ernesto, then he’d probably never achieved his dream to become a musician, and Hector would have been totally forgotten. So, the next time your parents tell you to take a college program you don’t like, better start working on a good argument.

Adults don’t really seem to understand until they see it for themselves. Reality does make an individual skeptic about life, and no child is spared from such changes in time.

Never lose your principles while following your dreams (young working adults).

Young Ernesto as he watched Miguel drink the poisoned drink. Coco (2017).

This is a situation that almost everyone who is starting the ‘adulting life’ can relate to. Most people tend to think that you have to learn to be independent or be by yourself in order to be successful in life. Which means you have to accept that you have to disconnect from the people you care about for some time to pursue your aspirations.

The whole conflict in the animation began when the father left his family to go after his dream of becoming a musician. Which in turn led to the wife hating and prohibiting any form of music to be played in the family. A tradition that was passed down to three generations.

In the movie Ernesto explained that the reason why he “left his hometown and orphaned his own” was that because “one cannot deny what was meant to be”, but just like him being Miguel’s great-great-grandfather, the idea behind that statement is absolutely preposterous.

If we were to think like the famous author, C.S. Lewis. Then his wisdom would teach us that logically success is the basis of one’s content for his achievements,and if one sacrifices something for another, that would make him unhappy. If so, one cannot be content, and therefore, one is unsuccessful.